The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-12


large ram and double hull iron
clad flying the flag of an admiral.
The grand river was level with its
banks, and, as witnesses to the scene
about to open and of the prelude just
described 10 Old river, lay the Union
camps of many thosand men of all
arms, while numerous bomb vessels
and an immense feet of transport |
steamers lay securely on the west
hank near the great host of aux
iliaries to the naval investment of |
Vicksburg. Ii was not time for the |
commander of the Arkansas to count
the hostile ships amidst which he |
was taking his brave comrades.
There were in the Federal squadron |
at least six iron clads, each siDgly |
superior in armor, guns and speed to |
the Arkansas; seven rams and ten
sea going ships Of war, among which
were some of superior force, the |
whole commanded by Rear AdmiralS |
Farragut and Davis, to say nothing
of the men, 300 heavy guns, and a
vast squadron of iron clads, gun
boats, trigates, etc., against a solita-
ry Confederate vessel of ten guns and
200 men.
The commander of the Arkansas
had called his little vessel "box of
guns" but as she slowly moved into
the Federal line of fire between
the hours of z and 8 o'clock on
the morning of Tuesday, July Is,
1862, she became citadel OF flame.
Passing grandly along within half
cables length of Farragut's line, the
Arkansas received and returned the
fire OF the entire feet, and as the
enemy closed in astern from their
double inshore line the Confederate
guns at the same moment were fired
ahead, astern, port and starboard,
dealing death at every point of the
compass. The rapid succession of
broadsides, commingled with burst
ing shells and the sharp hissings of
grape, shrapnell and MIME balls, all
these, though the noise of the can
nonade was heard forty miles from
the scene Of action, seemed slight to
the officers and crew of the Arkan-
sas compared with the horrible din
and constant conclusion Of the mis-
siles crushing against and through
the sides of their vessel. The bright,
clear morning was for time 80 OBJ
scured by smoke that the red flash
from the lannon's mouth produced
the illusion OF nocturnal combat.
Slowly the combat drifted along the
dreadful line, for now the breach
ings Of the Arkansas boilers had
been shot away and steam fell to
twenty pounds. The temperature
in the shield around the guns rose
to 120O, and the exhausted firemen
coming from below found little re-
lief, save in the nearer excitement of
the battle.
The first vessel encountered BY the
Arkansas was gunboat No. 6 of Far
ragut's feet, carrying one heavy
eleven inch Dahlgren and two small
twelve Founders at the bow. This
boat received several shots from the
| Arkansas, and replied vigorously
with her big gun. Without stopping
her engines, the Arkansas ran past
No. 6, and next encountered the
Louisville, which gave Ter the full
benefit of her broadside and bow
gum. The Arkansas had by this
time reached a position where her
shot was effective in every direc-
ton, and she used all her guns at
the same moment, firing at trans
ports and gunboats indiscriminately
None of the boats were able to give
the Arkansas more than one or two
broadsides before she was out Of
reach. Most of the balls were
thrown at short range, but many Of
the solid proiectiles glanced off
while the shells were shivered into
thousand fragments by the force
of the conclusion alone. The Ben
ton, Louisville and Cincinnati moved
as speedily as they could turn in the
river, and followed closely upon the
heels of the Arkansas!
As the Confederate ram passed
the Hartford, Iroquois, Richmond,
Sumter, Louisville, Oneida, Cincin :
natl, Sciota, Wissahickon, Winona
and Essex, she received a heavy
broadside from each. Two of the
enemy's eleven inch solid shot,
however. crushed through the sides
of the Arkansas, doing fearful exc
cutiou among her men. The iron on
her port side, though pierced but
twice, had been So often struck with
heavy projectiles that it was very
much loosened. A few more heavy
shots would have caused nearly all
of it to have fallen from the sides of
the vessel. In many instances solid
shot seemed to fatten against her
armor, while shells were scattered
into thousands of fragments. A
shot from one of the boats, at short
range, is said to have struck at right
angles upon her side and re5ounded
falling into the water close to the
vessel from which it was discharged
1t is also said by those who saw the
engagement that a flash Of fire de,
noted the spot where every bal
struck, so terrible was the concus
sion and so strong the resistance.
The Arkansas duri"S her progress
down the river put holes in the Hart
ford, the Iroquois, Richmond anC
} Benton, and halt of the gunboats
Her iron prov was prominent tt
view, but she did not attempt to use
it upon any of the boats after tn,
first attack. The United States ran
Lancaster at one time started for the
: Arkansas, intending to run her down
but before proceeding far she re
: ceived three shots from the bow gun
, of Grimbsll and Gift, one of which
, severed her steam pipe, by which
: number Of her crew were scalded
three of them fatally. A daring ran
attacking astern was blown off b!
the rife guns of Read and Scales
I The iron clad Benton, the flag shil
! of Rear Admiral Davis, guarding tn,
, gorge through which led the way t,
: Vicksburg, moved out Of the way o
, the gallant Arkansas, and received
for her courtesy, through her sterl
, ports, from their very muzSles, thu